122
JUAN FRANCISCO BLANCO
Negreté. We have come to see if your tribe, the Tongans, was
attacked without provocation by the Tarawan king, Barha. We
want to see the graves of your dead. We want to count how
many people the Tarawans have taken as slaves. Then, if Zorin
has spoken the truth, we will help you defend yourselves. We
will help you to regain the Tongans that were enslaved, and to
return them to their rightful homes and families. We will heal
your wounded, and make them whole again.”
Just then, one deeply wrinkled old man pushed his way to the
front of the swelling crowd of villagers, yelling out, “I am Vogél, I
have seen you two in my dreams. You bring only destruction to
my people. You are too young, too little, to help my people. I am
the only one who can heal my people! You are outsiders, and my
dreams tell me you come as friends to the Tarawans. You come
here to spy on us!”
With that foul outburst of slander, Bardala saw that even the
Queen might believe her trusted court shaman, Vogél. As he
came pushing forward, he pointed his crooked finger at Bardala,
and forcefully yelled out, “She is a witch! She can heal none!
Only I...” His throat contracted choking off further insults.
Bardala slowly leaned back in the leather saddle and her blue
eyes blazed hotly. She pointed her own finger back at Vogél, and
said in an even voice that all could clearly hear, “I think I will heal
your stupid mind first, to show all the Tongan people we come to
help them.” With that self-imposed challenge, Bardala raised her
finger upward, and Vogél magically floated up to be eyeball to
eyeball with her. His arms wildly flailed about, and his feet
craved to feel the solid ground once again. When he was one full
meter off the ground, Bardala pointed a finger on her left hand,